Rocker arm



A. c. SAMPIETRO 2,905,160

ROCKER ARM 2 Sheets-Shee'n 1 Sept. 22, 1959 Filed March 6, 1958 Sept. 22, 1959 A. c. SAMPIETRO 2,905,160

ROCKER ARM Filed March 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2,905,160 ROCKER. ARM

Achilles C. Sampietro, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Thompson Ramo Wooldridge Inc., a corporation of Ohio Application March 6, 1958 Serial No. 719,632

20 Claims. (Cl. 123-90) The present invention relates to improvements in valve rocker arms and more particularly to a rocker arm and method of making a rocker arm formed of a single unitary flat plate -or sheet of material shaped to form an improved rocker arm structure.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a light-weight, strong, simple rocker arm which may be easily manufactured by a stamping or pressing and cutting operation. The rocker arm is of the type which may he used for opening and closing a valve for an internal combustion engine. In such an engine, overhead valves are frequently employed and the valves are of the springloaded poppet type held in closed position by a valve spring arrangement with the valve head projecting downwardly and with the stem exposed'in an upward direction. 'A push rod projects upwardly spaced from the valve stem and laterally thereof with respect to the engine. The push rod may be in lateral alignment with the valve stem 'or may be displaced longitudinally along the engine with respect to the stem, and a feature'of the invention is to provide a rocker arm which has principles of structure that can be adapted to use with either type. The rocker arm is supported on a member which enables the arm to be driven in pivotal movement with vertical reciprocation of the push rod. A feature of the present invention is to provide an improved rocker arm which is well adapted to use with a very simple pivotal support such as a cylindrical shaft extending the length of the engine between the valve stems and push rods.

. In a preferred form of the rocker arm, the arm is stamped, pressed or formed from a single unitary metal plate or section of sheet metal. The arm is shaped with means such as a socket for receiving the push rod at one end of the arm, and with means such as a formed downwardly projecting pad at the other end for engaging the valve stem. Intermediate the ends of the rocker arm is formed a cylindrical bearing surface having an axis extending laterally of the rocker arm and facing upwardly when the arm is used in an upright position, such as on a valve in head engine. The rocker arm is provided with downwardly extending rib or flange means, preferably at the edges of the upwardly facing bearing surface and with a wall member which projects upwardly from the arm and extends along the axis thereof. Through the wall is formed an opening, preferably circular in form, to admit the shaft which supports the rocker arm, with the opening being coaxial with the bearing surface and larger than the shaft so that the support for the arm is obtained from the bearing surface, and the opening guides the arm in place on the shaft and prevents displacement. In one form, preferably for use wherein the push rod and valve stem are directly opposite each other, the upstanding wall portions are turned upwardly from the edges of the rocker arm, such as by being a continuation of the downwardly extending flange. In another form, such as is preferably provided wherein the push rod is offset from the position of the valve stem, the vertical upstanding wall is in the form of a rib which 2 rises from the center of the bearing surface and is fdfmed of doubled material integral with the material of the rocker arm.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rocker arm which is very simple in construction and can be inexpensively and rapidly manufactured.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an easily manufactured rocker arm which is extremely strong, and which is durable and suitable for reliable use in high speed engines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved rocker arm which can be supported by a simple cylindrical shaft extending the length of the engine without the provision of special pivotal bearing supports.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rocker arm having an upwardly facing cylindrical bearing surface mounted on a cylindrical shaft with structural features which lend unusual rigidity and strength to the bearing surface and the rocker arm.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method for manufacturing a rocker arm of a single piece of flat metal plate or sheet metal.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention as disclosed in the description, in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the upper portion of the head of the internal combustion engine and through a rocker arm employing the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line IIII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a sheet of material for forming a rocker arm illustrating a step in the method of making the rocker arm of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a completed rocker arm of a form for use where it is to be operated with a valve stem and push rod which are displaced from each other;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line VV of Figure 4, and including a support shaft for the rocker arm;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line VI--VI of Figure 5, and showing the rocker arm in side elevation; and,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Figure 5, and showing the rocker arm in sectional view from the side opposite that shown in Figure 6.

As shown in the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a rocker arm 10 mounted in operational position on an engine head 12. The head 12 ispart of a conventional valve in head engine which includes a poppet valve with a stem 14 extending upwardly and with its upper end 16 exposed to be engaged by a rocker arm to push the poppet valve to open position and release it to be closed.

The valve stem 14 is guided in a cylindrical valve stem opening 18 in the engine head 12, and is urged upwardly to urge the valve to a closed position by a coil compression valve spring 20. The valve spring 20 bottoms on a shoulder 22 on the engine head 12, and the upper end of the spring bears against the'u'nder surface of a shaped valve-spring retainer-washer 24. The retainer washer is held in place in the valve stem by a pair of conventional split retainer locks 26. The retainer locks have beads 28 which project into grooves 30 :on the valve stem to hold the retainer .washer in place on the stem.

The valve is operated by a vertically reciprocating push in the usual manner. The upper end of the push rod- Patented Sept. 22, 1959 has a spherical end 34, which is seated in a socket 36 formed in one end of the rocker arm 10.

The rocker arm is supported between the push rod andvalve stem on. a. rockerarm supporting shaft 38. The shaft 38 is mounted .on suitable posts 4.0 which .project upwardly from the engine head 12. A feature of the present invention is the provision of arocker arm of a designv which can. beused with a. simple cylindrical support rod, such as 38, without the necessity of providing special bearing supports for the rocker arm. The support shaft 38. is tubular in form, so as to have a hollow interior 42, which. may be connected to be supplied with pressurized oil from the engine, and radial oil escape openings may be provided at the rocker arms for lubricating the bearing surfaces.

The rocker arm is formed of a pressed or stamped plate 44 of sheet metal,,:as shown in- Figure 3. With ref Hence. to Figures 1 and 2, the left end, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with the fragmentary spherical de pression 36 for receiving the spherical end 34 of the push rod. At the other end of the rocker arm 10, the sheet metal is depressed downwardly to form a pad 46 which: engages the upper end 16 of the valve. stem. Thus, as the rocker arm is pivoted by vertical reciprocation of the push rod 32, the valve stem 14 will. be forced downwardly or released.

The rocker arm 10, at a location intermediate its ends 48 and 50, is provided with an upwardly facing cylindrical bearing surface 51. The concave upwardly facing bearing surface is formed with its axis extending laterally of the rocker arm 10. The bearing surface 51 faces upwardly so as to slidably seat against the downwardly facing surface 52 of the supporting shaft 38. The bearing surface 51, thus forms a nearly semicircular recess to cooperate with the shaft, and permit pivotal rocking of the rocker arm.

A feature of the rocker arm structure prevents the collapse or dipping in of the cylindrical bearing surface 51. This is obtained by providing longitudinally extending ribs 54 and 56 on each side of the bearing surface 51, particularly as shown in Figure 2. The ribs 54 and- 56 extend longitudinally along the rocker arm, and are formed integral with the sheet of material thereof and extend integrally from the material forming the bearing surface 51. The rib 54 is formed by turning the material downwardly at the side of the bearing surface 51 to form an inner side 58 of the rib and again turning the material upwardly to form an outer side 60 of the rib. Rib 56 similarly is formed by turning material downwardly at the side of the bearing surface 51 to form a rib side 62 and turning the material again upwardly to form an outer side 64 of the rib 56.

As will be observed from the showing of Figure 1, the ribs are extended beyond the ends of the bearing surface and merge into the general formed shape of the rocker arm to add rigidity and strength to the entire arm, as well as to the bearing surface 51.

Additional rigidity and strength is provided to the rocker arm and to its bearing surface by side walls 66 and 68.

The side wall 66 is formed 'by turning upwardly the side of the metal sheet that forms the integral rocker arm to extend substantially vertically and form a continuation of the outer side of the rib 54, as shown in Figure 2. The side wall 68 is formed of a continuation of the outer side 64 of the rib 56 and extends substantially vertically upwardly. The wall members 66 and 68 are illustrated as preferably formed at the outer edges of the bearing surface 51 outside of the ribs 54 and 56, but the position of these elements may be altered within the teachings of the present invention. For example, as illustrated in Figure 4, in another form of the invention, a vertical wall 92 is formed at a centrally located position with respect to the rocker arm, as will be described later.

To locate the rocker arm on the supporting shaft 38, openings, preferably substantially circular in form are provided in the side walls 66 and 68. Side wall 66 has an opening 70, and side wall 68 is provided with an opening 72. The openings are sufficiently large to have a good clearance on the supporting shaft 38 with the complete bearing support for the rocker arm being supplied by the bearing, surface 51. Thus, the openings 70 and 72 will guide the. rocker arm into its position and prevent it from accidentally being moved out of position, but will not interfere with the operation of the rocker arm on the shaft.

The rocker arm '10 is held in its axial location along the shaft 38 by collars, brackets and springs in a well known manner, and these are not shown in the drawings.

In the manufacture of the rocker arm, a sheet 4.4 or plate of metal is provided and the rocker arm is first blanked therefrom. by forming the openings 70. and 72, spaced from the side edges 74 and 76 of the blank, and spaced intermediate the ends 78 and 80 of the blank. Immediately after the openings 70 and 72 are formed in the flat sheet, or in a simultaneous machine operation, the sheet is shaped by pressing. or stamping. This operation forms the bearing surface 51 between the openings 70 and 7 2 with the ribs 54 and 56- at the edges thereof, the side walls 66 and 68- turned upwardly at the edges of the ribs, bringing the openings 70 and 72 into coaxial aligned position. Inasmuch as the openings 70 and 72 are stamped opposite each, other, and the walls are brought up to a substantially parallel relationship in the area of the openings, the openings are positioned coaxialand directly opposite each other to be coaxial with the bearing surface 51. The continuous material outside of the openings serves to form a rigidifying bridge above the openings, strengthening the completed rocker arm.

In some instances, a rocker arm must be provided for an engine wherein the push rod and valve stem are not positioned directly opposite each other but are displaced longitudinally along the engine head. A rocker arm accommodating this construction and embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 4 through 7.

In these figures, the rocker arm 82 is shown stamped or shaped from a single unitary plate or sheet of metal or similar deformable material. At one end 84 of the rocker arm, the metal is forced upwardly in a bulge 86 which forms on the under surface of the rocker arm a fragmentary spherical socket for receiving the upper end of a push rod. At the other end 88 of the rocker arm, the metal is forced downwardly to form a pad 90 for engaging the upper end of the stem of a poppet valve.

It is to be noted that the bulge 86 for the push rod and the pad 90 for the valve stem are laterally offset from each other with respect to the center of the rocker arm 92 which coincides with the location of a rib 92. Extending down the center of the rocker arm and projecting upwardly therefrom is the centrally located wall or rib 92, which extends substantially along the axis of the rocker arm but which in some instances may extend angularly along the rocker arm. At each side of the rib 92 are horizontal flat portions or surfaces, and the bulge 86 is formed in a flat surface 94 at the end 84 of the arm. Another flat surface 96 lies on the opposite side of the rib 92 at the same end of the arm. At the end 88 of the rocker arm, pad 90 is formed in a fiat surface 98, and another flat surface 100 lies at the other side of the rib 92.

In forming the rocker arm 82, the material is doubled in a longitudinal direction substantially about its center to form the upstanding wall or rib 92. At the sides of the rib 92 the material is bent outwardly to horizontal planes amass to form .the flat surfaces 94 and 100 at one side of the rib, and 96 and 98 at the other side of the rib 92.

Intermediate the length of the arm 92 and extending laterally thereof is a cylindrical upwardly facing bearing surface 102. The bearing surface has an axis extending laterally of the rocker arm 82, and the bearing surface is nearly semi-circular in form to cooperate with a supporting shaft-100.

At the sides of-the rocker arm 82 and at the edges of the flat areas 94, 100, 96, 98, the sheet of material forming the rocker arm is turned downwardly to form flanges 104 and 106, as may be best viewed in Figures 5, 6 and 7. These downwardly extending flanges lend strength and rigidity to the cylindrical upwardly facing bearing surface 102, and prevent it from dipping in or deforming. The ribs extend substantially the length of the rocker arm, and therefore, rigidify the entire structure, and perform a function similar to the walls 54 and 56 of the embodiment of Figures 1 through 3.

Substantially through the center of the upstanding central wall or rib 92, and coaxial with the upwardly facing bearing surface 102, a circular opening 108 is provided cut through both layers or sides 92a and 92b of the rib 92. The opening 108 is sufliciently large to permit clearance for the supporting shaft 110 for the rocker arm to thereby act as a guide for the rocker arm and prevent it from being accidentally displaced from the shaft 110. The opening 108 is preferably cut into the sides 92a and 92b of the vertical rib 92 before the rocker arm 82 is formed and the individual openings 108a and 10817 in the layers 92a and 9212 are cut sufliciently large so as to avoid sharp edges which would dig into the shaft 110 at the lower edge of the openings. This forms a gap 112 in the upwardly facing bearing surface 102.

To add additional rigidity to the structure, the sides 92a and 92b of the vertical r-ib 92 may be further secured by spot welds, such as shown at locations 114 and 1416, which are on either side of the opening 108 through the rib.

In operation of the embodiment of Figure '1, the rocker arm has an upwardly facing open cylindrical bearing surface 51 which slides on the lower surface 52 of the tubular support shaft 38 mounted at the top of the head 12 of a valve in head engine. Ribs 54. and 56 project downwardly on either side of the spherical surface to lend rigidity thereto and prevent dipping in, and side walls 66 and 68 are turned .upwardly from the ribs. Circular openings 70 and 72 are formed axially through/the side walls for positioning the rocker arm on the support shaft 38. Vertical reciprocation of the push rod 32 will cause opening and closing of the valve having the stem 14.

" In the embodiment of Figures 4 through 7, operation similarto the rocker arm in Figures 1 through 3 is obtained, but the arm 82 is used on an engine wherein the push rod is offset from the valve stem. In this construction a central rib 92 projects upwardly from the rocker arm and intermediate the ends 84 and S8 of the. rocker arm is an upwardly facing cylindrically shaped bearing surface 102. A circular opening 108 is formed through the center of the rib to permitthe rocker arm 82 to be mounted on the support shaft 110, Side flanges 104 and 106 project downwardly from the edges of a rocker arm and from the ends of the upwardly facing bearing surface 102.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided an improved rocker arm construction which meets the objectives and advantages hereinbefore set forth. The rocker arm may be pressed or stamped of a single light-weight sheet of material. It will be observed that in accordance with the method herein disclosed and made possible by the construction of the present invention, the arm can be produced at high speed under mass production conditions at a minimum of manufacturing cost.

1 The structure of the arm also enables rapid and simple assembly, and it is capable of use on an inexpensive tubular support shaft, thereby eliminating the expense of providing special bearing supports for the rocker arm. Yet, the rocker arm is of superior strength and the structure will enable sustained operation in high speed engines and will obtain long wear. There are no critical dimensions and no machining operations are necessary in the production of the arm, thereby greatly reducing the time and expense of manufacture. The features of the invention are well adapted to use with conventional aligned push rod and valve arrangements and are also well adapted to use where the push rod is out of line with respect to the valve stem. In the latter structure, the arrangement is capable of having a longer bearing support which is capable of resisting twisting efforts encountered due to the fact that the operating elements are out of line.

I have, in the drawings and specification, presented a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiment of my invention, and it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by my invention.

I claim:

1. A rocker arm for operating the valve of an internal combustion engine or the like formed of an integral section of pressed metal plate and having a socket portion at one end for, receiving a reciprocating push rod to rock the arm and facing downwardly when the arm is operated in an upright position such as for use with a valve in head engine, a valve stem engaging pad formed of a downwardly projecting depression in the metal plate at the other end of the rocker arm, a bearing face at a location intermediate the ends of the arm and having an upwardly facing cylindrically shaped bearing surface extending laterally of the arm for being rockingly cradled on a laterally extending rocker arm supporting shaft for the engine, said bearing face formed by a depression in the metal plate, longitudinally extending ribs projecting downwardly at the lateral sides of said bearing face and formed integrally therewith of the metal plate and having an upwardly facing channel in the ribs with the inner side of the channel integral with the bearing face and the outer side of the channel extending upwardly, and outer walls formed of the metal plate and integral with the outer sides of said ribs, said walls extending along the sides of the arm and rigidifying the arm and coacting with said ribs to rigidify said bearing face, said walls having axially aligned laterally extending circular openings formed therein coaxial with said bearing face and having a diameter larger than the face whereby supporting contact between the shaft and the rocker arm will be maintained by the bearing face and the openings in the wall will act as guide means to prevent displacement of the rocker arm from its operating position.

2. A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal form thickness at the center of the rocker arm shaped with a hollow open cylindrical bearing face with its axis extending laterally of the rocker arm and facing upwardly to fit against the cylindrical lower surface of a shaft for pivotally supporting the rocker arm, downwardly extending ribs at each side of said bearing face extendinglongitudinally of the armand-formed ofmetal plate portions integral with said bearing face turned downwardly at the sides of said face and again turned upwardly whereby the bearing face and the arm are rigidified, and side walls extending upright from the sides of the bearing face and formed integrally as an extension of the upwardly turned portions of said ribs and having axially aligned substantially circular openings in each of said walls-for assembly with the supporting shaft for the rocker arm.

3. A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal combustion engine or the like comprising a unitary metal arm formed of a single sheet of metal shaped for rigidity in a rocking plane of operation, means at one end of the arm for operatively connecting to a reciprocable push rod whereby the arm is pivotallyrockedabout a pivotal point intermediate the ends, means at the other end of the arm for operatively engaging a valve stem whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod may-be translated to a poppet valve, and bearing means formed integral with said single sheet and located at said pivotal point along the arm for mounting the arm on an .arm supporting shaft which extends transversely of the arm and transversely of said rocking plane of motion, said bearing means located coaxial with said pivotal point.

4. A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal combustion engine or the like comprising a unitary-metal arm formed of a single sheet of metal shaped for rigidity in a rocking plane of operation, means formed from said metal sheet at one end of the arm for operatively connecting to a reciprocable push rod whereby the arm is pivotally rocked about a pivotal point intermediate the ends, means formed from said metal sheet at the other end of the arm for operatively engaging a valve stem whereby the reciprocating movement of the-push rod may be translated to a poppet valve, and cylindrical shaped bearing means formed from said single sheet from which the arm is formed located at said pivotal point for pivotally attaching said arm to a pivotal support on an engine permitting pivotal movement in said rocking plane of operation.

5. A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal combustion engine or the like comprising a unitarymetal arm formed of a single sheet of metal shaped for rigidity in a rocking plane of operation having a bearing formed intermediate the ends and having a wall projecting upright from the arm, meansdefining a substantially circular opening in said wall at a location intermediate-the ends-of the arm and in axial alignment for assembly by sliding over an arm supporting shaft whereby the rocker arm will be held against displacement about an axis perpendicular to the arm and willbe supported on the shaft for pivotal rocking movement, means at one end of the arm for operatively connecting to a reciprocable push rod whereby the arm is pivotallyrocked about a pivotal point intermediate the ends, and means at the other end of the arm for operatively engaging a valve stem whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod may be translated to a poppet valve.

6. A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal combustion engine or the like comprising a shaped elongated rocker arm formed substantially in its entirety of pressed metal plate, means at one end of the arm for operatively receiving a reciprocable push rod to rock the arm in a substantially vertical plane when used in an upright position, means at the other end of the arm for operatively receiving the stem of a poppet valve to be operated by the arm with pivotal movement vwhereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod is translatedto the valve, and a metal plate sectionlof' substantially uniform thickness formed from said .sheet at the center of the rocker arm shaped with a hollqwopen cylindrical bearing face with its axis laterally of. the rocker armand facing upwardly to fit againstthecylindrical lower surface of a shaft for pivotally supporting the rocker arm.

7. .A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal combustion engine or the like comprising a shaped elongated rocker arm formed substantially in its entirety of pressedmetal plate, means at one end of the arm for operatively receiving a reciprocable push rod to rock the arm in a substantially vertical plane when used in an upright position, means at the other end of the arm for operatively receiving-the stem of a poppet valve to be operated by the arm with pivotal movement whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod is translated to the valve, and a metal plate section of substantially uniform thickness at the center of the rocker arm shapedwith a-hollow-open cylindrical bearing face with its axis laterally of the rocker arm and facing upwardly to fit against the cylindrical lower surface of a shaft for pivotally supporting therocker arm and having portions at the sides of said bearing face-turned-upwardly to form side walls for strengthening the arm and. having axial openings througheach-of the side walls larger than the supporting shaft to be slidover the shaft in assembly guiding the rocker arm inits place onthe shaft to prevent displacement of said bearing face.

8. A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal combustion engine or the like comprising a shaped elongated rocker arm formed substantially in its entirety of pressed metal plate, means at one end of the arm for operatively receiving a reciprocable push rod to rock the arm in a substantially vertical plane when used in an upright position, means at the other end of the arm for operatively receiving the stem of a poppet valve to be operated by the arm with pivotal movement whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod is translated to the valve, a bearing face intermediate the ends of the rocker arm for pivotally receiving a supporting means for the arm, and an integral downwardly extending shaped rib on the arm formed to project downwardly from the arm below the bearing face and to extendlongitudinally of the arm to form a beam for strengthening the arm.

9. A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal combustion engine or the like comprising a shaped elongated rocker arm formed substantially in its entirety of pressed metal plate, means at one end of the arm for operatively receiving'a reciprocable push rod to rock the arm in a substantially vertical plane when used in an upright position, means at the other end of the arm for operatively receiving the stem of a poppet valve to be operated by the arm with pivotal movement whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod is translated to the valve, a bearing face intermediate the ends of the rocker arm for pivotally receiving a supporting means for the arm, and an elongated rib formed of the metal plate of the arm forced outwardly and doubled to extend longitudinally of the arm and to be integral therewith whereby the rib presents a longitudinal rigidifying beam.

10. A rocker arm for operating a valve for an internal combustion engine or the like comprising a shaped elongated rocker arm formed substantially in its entirety of pressed metal plate, means at one end of the arm for operatively receiving'a reciprocable push rod to rock the arm in a substantially vertical plane when used in an upright position, means at the other end. of the arm for operatively receiving the stem of a poppet valve to be operated by the arm with pivotal movement whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod is translated to the valve, a metal plate section of substantially uniform thickness at the center of the rocker arm shaped with a hollow open cylindrical bearing face with its axis extending laterally of the rocker aim and facing upwardly to fit against the cylindrical lower surface of a shaft for pivotally supporting the rocker arm, and downwardly extending ribs at eachzside of said bearing face extending longitudinally of the arm andformed of metal plate portions integral with said-bearingface turned downwardly at the sides of said face andagain turned upwardly whereby the bearing face and the arm are rigidified.

11. -In a valve in head engine, a valve operating assembly having an upwardly extending reciprocable push rod, a poppet valve with an operating stem having an upwardly exposed stem, at laterally extending'support shaft located between the push rod and poppet valve, a shaped pressed metal rocker arm forward of a single unitary sheet of metal and extending between said push rod and valve stem and pivotally carried on the support shaft, means at one end of the arm for operatively receiving the reciprocable push rod to rock the arm in a substantially vertical plane when used in an upright position, means at the other end of the arm for operatively receiving the stem of the poppet valve to be operated by the armvwith pivotal movement whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod is translated to the valve, and an upwardly facing cylindrical bearing face intermediate of the ends of the rocker arm pressed into the upper surface of the sheet of metal and carrying the rocker arm on the lower surface of the support shaft.

12. In a valve in head engine, a valve operating assembly having an upwardly extending reciprocable push rod, a poppet valve with an operating stem having an upwardly exposed end, a laterally extending support shaft located between the push rod and poppet valve, a shaped pressed metal rocker arm formed of a single unitary sheet of metal and extending between said push rod and valve stem and pivotally carried on the support shaft, means at one end of the arm for operatively receiving the reciprocable push rod to rock the arm in a substantially vertical plane when used in an upright position, means at the other end of the arm for operatively receiving the stem of the poppet valve to be operated by the arm with pivotal movement whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod is translated to the valve, an upwardly facing cylindrical bearing face intermediate of the ends of the rocker arm pressed into the upper surface of the sheet of metal and carrying the rocker arm on the lower surface of the support shaft, and means reinforcing said bearing face to prevent deformation thereof and strengthen said rocker arm.

13. In a valve in head engine, a valve operating assembly having an upwardly extending reciprocable push rod, a poppet valve with an operating stem having an upwardly exposed stem, a laterally extending support shaft located between the push rod and poppet valve, a shaped pressed metal rocker arm formed of a single unitary sheet of metal and extending between said push rod and valve stem and pivotally carried on the support shaft, means at one end of the arm for operatively receiving the reciprocable push rod to rock the arm in a substantially vertical plane when used in an upright position, means at the other end of the arm for operatively receiving the stem of the poppet valve to be operated by the arm with pivotal movement whereby the reciprocating movement of the push rod is translated to the valve, an upwardly facing cylindrical bearing face intermediate of the ends of the rocker arm pressed into the upper surface of the sheet of metal and carrying the rocker arm on the lower surface of the support shaft, and side walls formed of said sheet of metal integral with said rocker arm and turned upwardly at the sides of the rocker arm to strengthen the bearing face and rocker arm.

14. A rocker arm for an engine having a push rod and a poppet valve comprising a unitary rocker arm formed of a single flat plate of material of substantially uniform thickness, first means formed in the arm at one end for operably receiving a push rod of an engine, sec- 0nd means formed in the arm at the other end of the rocker arm for operably receiving the stem of a valve to be operated by reciprocation of the push rod, said first and second means displaced laterally on opposite sides of an axis of the rocker arm centrally located and extending parallel to the arm and between its ends, and

means formed in the arm intermediate the ends and integral with the plate of material for pivotally supporting the arm on a supporting shaft on the engine.

15. A rocker arm for an engine having a push rod and a poppet valve comprising a unitary rocker arm formed of a single flat plate of material of substantially uniform thickness, first means formed in the arm at one end for operably receiving a push rod of an engine, second means formed in the arm at the other end of the rocker arm for operably receiving the stem of a valve to be operated by reciprocation of the push rod, said first and second means displaced laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm, and an open cylindrical shaped bearing face formed in the arm integral with the plate of material intermediate the ends and extending laterally with its axis substantially normal to the axis of the rocker arm and facing upwardly for pivotally bearing on a supporting shaft on the engine.

16. A rocker arm for an engine having a push rod and a poppet valve comprising a unitary rocker arm formed of a single fiat plate of material of substantially uniform thickness, first means formed in the arm at one end for operably receiving a push rod of an engine, second means formed in the arm at the other end of the rocker arm for operably receiving the stem of a valve to be operated by reciprocation of the push rod, said first and second means displaced laterally on opposite sides on the axis of the rocker arm extending parallel to the arm and between its ends, an open cylindrical shaped bearing face formed in the arm intermediate the ends and extending laterally with its axis substantially normal to the axis of the rocker arm and facing upwardly for pivotally bearing on a supporting shaft on the engine, and a vertically extending rib positioned at said rocker arm axis above said bearing face and formed from the material of the arm.

17. A rocker arm for an engine having a push rod and a poppet valve comprising a unitary rocker arm formed of a single flat plate of material of substantially uniform thickness, first means formed in the arm at one end for operably receiving a push rod of an engine, second means formed in the arm at the other end of the rocker arm for operably receiving the stem of a valve to be operated by reciprocation of the push rod, said first and second means displaced laterally on opposite sides on the axis of the rocker arm extending parallel to the arm and between its ends, an open cylindrical shaped bearing face formed in the arm intermediate the ends and extending laterally with its axis substantially normal to the axis of the rocker arm and facing upwardly for pivotally bearing on a supporting shaft on an engine, a vertical wall formed of said plate material and projecting upwardly to reinforce said arm, and a lateral opening through said vertical wall above said bearing face whereby the supporting shaft may be passed through the wall.

18. A rocker aim for an engine having a push rod and a poppet valve comprising in combination a unitary sheet metal rocker arm formed of a single fiat plate of material of substantially uniform thickness, first means formed at one end of the rocker arm for operative engagement with a push rod of an engine for pivotally moving the rocker arm, second means formed at the other end of the rocker arm for operably engaging the stem of the poppet valve to be operated by reciprocation of the push rod, a cylindrically shaped depression formed in the rocker arm having an axis extending laterally of the rocker arm and forming an upwardly facing bearing surface for pivotal engagement with a shaft for supporting the arm, downwardly extending flanges at the edges of said bearing surface for reinforcing the surface and the arm, a vertically extending rib substantially centered with respect to the bearing surface and extending longitudinally along the axis of the rocker arm, said rib formed of material doubled and raised from said bearing surface to project upwardly, and means defining a laterally extending opening through said rib above said bearing surface in order freely therethrough with the bearing surface forming the sole supporting surface between the shaft and rocker armupstanding opposed relationship with said holes in coaxialrelationship to complete the arm.

20. The method of forming a valve operating rocker arm for an internal combustion engine having an upwardly'facing bearing surface with a Wall projecting 19.The method of forming a valve operating rocker arm for an internal combustion engine having an up wardly facing bearing surface with a wall projecting up-- Wardly having openings which comprises providing a single sheet of'fiat deformable material, forming spaced openings in' the material and trimming the sheet to a' shapeaffording sufficient material to form the arm, and subsequentlyforcing the sheet of material into theshape of the rocker arm bringing portions of thematerial into 12 upwardly' ha'ving openings which comprises providing a single sheet of flat deformable material, forming spaced openingsiri 'the 'material and trimming the" sheet toa shape afiording suflicient material to form the arm, and' subs'e'qnently forcing the center of the sheet material into acylindrical shape to provide a bearing surface and turning the side edges 'upwardly from the bearing surface with the spaced openings in opposed coaxial relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,176,083 Leake Oct. 17, 1939 2,199,914 Haberstump May 7, 1940 r 2,572,968" Bachle Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS GreatBritain Sept. 5, 1956 No cice of Adverse Decision in Interferense In Interference No. 91,241 involving Patent No. 2,905,160,131. C. Sampietro,

JROGKER ARM, final judgment adverse to the patentee Was rendered Oct. 24,

1960, as to claims '8, 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 18, 14, 15 and 17,

[Oficial Gazette March 30, 1.965.] 

